Yusuf al-Qaradawi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood, said on Egyptian television, "If they [Muslims] had gotten rid of the punishment [often death] for apostasy, Islam would not exist today."Photo Credit: Yori Yanover

The most influential Sunni leader in the Middle East has just admitted what many of us who grew up as Muslims in the Middle East have always known: that Islam could not exist today without the killing of apostates.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood and one of the most respected leaders of the Sunni world, recently said on Egyptian television, “If they [Muslims] had gotten rid of the punishment [often death] for apostasy, Islam would not exist today.”

The most striking thing about his statement, however, was that it was not an apology; it was a logical, proud justification for preserving the death penalty as a punishment for apostasy. Al-Qaradawi sounded matter-of-fact, indicating no moral conflict, nor even hesitation, about this policy in Islam. On the contrary, he asserted the legitimacy of Islamic laws in relying on vigilante street justice through fear, intimidation, torture and murder against any person who might dare to leave Islam.

Many critics of Islam agree with Sheikh Qaradawi, that Islam could not have survived after the death of the prophet Mohammed if it were not for the killing, torturing, beheading and burning alive of thousands of people — making examples of them to others who might wish to venture outside Islam. From its inception until today, Islam has never considered this policy inappropriate, let alone immoral. In a recent poll, 84% of Egyptians agree with the death penalty for apostates; and we see no moderate Muslim movement against this law. That 1.2 billion Muslims appear comfortable with such a command sheds light on the nature of Islam.

Unlike Americans, who understand basic principles of their constitution, most Muslims have no clue about the basic laws of their religion. Most Muslims choose ignorance over knowledge when it comes to Islam, and often refuse to comment negatively out of fear of being accused of apostasy. While in the West it is considered a virtue to try to understand one’s religion, ask questions about it and make choices accordingly, in the Muslim world doing the same thing is the ultimate sin punishable by death. What the West prides itself on, is a crime under Islamic law.

The main concern of Muslim citizens in any Islamic state is staying safe, alive and away from being accused of doing or saying anything against Islamic teachings. In such an atmosphere of fear and distrust, harm can come not only from the government, but from friends, neighbors and even family members, who are protected from prosecution for killing anyone they regard as an apostate.

It is not a coincidence that Muslim countries have the highest rate of illiteracy and that they lack education: in an Islamic culture that criminalizes not only apostasy, but also asking questions or doubting, ignorance is a virtue that protects you.

The Islamic and Judeo-Christian cultures are polar opposites when it comes to value systems and moral compasses — the core divisions between Islamic and Western morality. No religion other than Islam kills those who leave it — probably a sign of Islamic leaders’ lack of confidence in Islam’s ability to survive among other religions that do not kill to keep their followers in line.

In a different Egyptian television show on the “Al-Tahrir” channel, in a discussion of Islamic textbooks from Al-Azhar — the world’s premier Islamic University, in Cairo — students were told that “any Muslim, without permission of the ruler, can kill and barbeque a murtad [apostate] and eat him.” This lesson was confirmed to be in official Egyptian government books for high school students. The stunned guest on the TV show could not believe that Egyptian students of Islam are being taught that cannibalism of apostates is halal [permitted].

Policies such as these should be of great concern to the West. The West, however, appears to be in denial. It refuses to be openly concerned; and when its citizens are concerned, they are suppressed. They are sued [Geert Wilders, Lars Hedegard, Elisabeth Sabaditsch-Wolff, Mark Steyn, Ezra Levant]; assaulted [Kurt Westergaard in Denmark, Lars Vilks in Sweden, Charlie Hedbo weekly journal in France]; threatened with deportation [currently, Imran Firasat, from Spain to Pakistan, and Reza Jabbari from Sweden to Iran, where both will most likely be either imprisoned or sentenced to death]; issued death threats [Salman Rushdie, Geert Wilders, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Wafa Sultan, M. Zuhdi Jasser], and sometimes murdered [Theo van Gogh].

About the Author:Nonie Darwish, President of Former Muslims United and author "The Devil We Don't Know"

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Imported and Older Comments:

Sinem Tezyapar from Turkey is saying that the Koran does not sanction war against non-Muslims and that Isalm is a religion of love and peace and equal rights for Jews and all that jazz. In truth, I'm rather surprised that she is still alive promoting Islam to the public with such lies.

The Rambam, Rabbi Mosheh Ben Maimon (Maimonides), wrote a formal didactic (teaching) letter to the Yemenite Jews in 1172 informing them that Muhammad is a false prophet and insane.
In parasha VaYishlach (Gen 36:40-43) we find the genealogy of Esav’s family of which the present day Muslim/Arab population are derived from. In this parasha, it shows the depravity of Esav’s family which was rife with incest. Since the children of a bastard (mamzer) are also illegitimate, in the end all of Esau’s descendants are actually illegitimate. The family history of Mohammed in particular shows that he was also illegitimate; so, we have a large group of people in our world today worshiping and following an illegitimate person from an illegitimate family. So, sperm banks are just a cover to the public so that they can carry on the tradition of Arab/Muslim/Islams’ illegitimacy. If mankind today had a cure for insanity, there would not be an Islam.

The Rambam, Rabbi Mosheh Ben Maimon (Maimonides), wrote a formal didactic (teaching) letter to the Yemenite Jews in 1172 informing them that Muhammad is a false prophet and insane.
In parasha VaYishlach (Gen 36:40-43) we find the genealogy of Esav’s family of which the present day Muslim/Arab population are derived from. In this parasha, it shows the depravity of Esav’s family which was rife with incest. Since the children of a bastard (mamzer) are also illegitimate, in the end all of Esau’s descendants are actually illegitimate. The family history of Mohammed in particular shows that he was also illegitimate; so, we have a large group of people in our world today worshiping and following an illegitimate person from an illegitimate family. So, sperm banks are just a cover to the public so that they can carry on the tradition of Arab/Muslim/Islams’ illegitimacy. If mankind today had a cure for insanity, there would not be an Islam.

@ Ararsa – you're displaying typical Muhammad brainwashing, that the response to every problem is "blame the Zionist Jews". Muhammad is the one to blame for creating a poisonous system enslaving the minds of nearly 2 billion people and the many who are then enslaved by Muslims.

In case you didn't read the article, and I'm sure you didn't, Noni is an ex-Muslim from a Muslim country. She is not a "Zionist Jew".

Please open your eyes and mind. I know that is hard for you because Muhammad has diseased them both. But open them to see what it was that Muhammad was so scared of that he put Sura 3:100 and 5:101-102 in the Qur'an. He was afraid of the truth exposing him as a false prophet. The Jews exposed him as such which is why he hated them. The Christians saw through his false claim to prophethood and that's why he hated them.

In case you still can't see from the obvious reason in Sura 5:102 why Muhammad was so scared of the Bible, even though he confirmed the unchangeable reliability of it as Allah's words, then look at Sura 23:14 and see all of the many errors in the Qur'an on embryology. In case you don't know, the Qur'an has a test to prove whether or not it is from God. if there are discrepancies / errors in it, that proves it isn't from God. And there are so many errors in the Qur'an, the easiest of which to illustrate factually are the blatant errors in Sura 23:14 on embryological development.

Ararsa mohammad '' why Zionist jews have a big mouth ??? " Oh! Boy, you are fine one to talk of 'big mouth' as if your is any smaller.
'' just shut up you can't defeat islam'' If you muslims had your way you would NOT let any Infidels open their mouth. Is there any wonder now the vast majority of non muslims hate Islam and muslims. Thank God that majority of Christians and non-muslims are more tolerant than muslims otherwise , you would be wiped off.

Sergio " Muslims kill muslims every day …you are doing the job for the human race. " You are right, don't forget that muslims have been killing one another from the times of their so called mo-ham-mad [ may pi$s be upon him.] '' islam will defeat its self '' yes, We must make sure we support sunnis and shias against each other.

Hey Sergio! I would love to add you as a friend, but for some odd reason facebook is giving me a hard time trying to add you here. I am now following you, but if you have the time and if you are interested and willing, please add me here on facebook — would love to be friends with you!! Great job on your murals! Keep up the good fight! Lots of respect and love!!